1.   It is clear that the independent counsel law has been misused or at least overused.

2.   Although testimony to a federal grand jury is supposed to remain secret, the independent counsel law requires Starr to report any evidence of impeachable offenses to Congress.

3.   And next week, when Congress returns from its Easter recess, he will introduce legislation that would substantially alter the way the independent counsel law operates.

4.   And in testimony to a congressional panel last February, Walsh reiterated the need for an independent counsel law and challenged the need for any changes in the statute.

5.   Another criticism of the independent counsel law is that it provides for unlimited financing.

6.   As for the special counsel law, it expires next year and should not be renewed in anything remotely resembling its present unaccountable form, if at all.

7.   Because the federal independent counsel law has expired, Danforth lacks the statutory independence that was granted to Kenneth Starr and other previous outside investigators.

8.   Beyond that, Congress must take another look at the independent counsel law.

9.   According to her interpretation of the independent counsel law, she could only examine specific violations against top officials on an issue-by-issue basis.

10.   After unsuccessfully challenging the independent counsel law, the prosecutor, Alexia Morrison, dropped the case.